What are the Health Benefits of Hemp Hearts?

When it comes to a proper healthy diet, there is one food you may not have considered before. It’s known as Hemp hearts. Hemp hearts are a superfood that is chalk-full of essential nutrients. High in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin E, iron, and GLA, this wonder food is also found to aid in weight loss. If you’re not familiar with hemp hearts and its benefits, read on to find out more.

What are Hemp Hearts?

Hemp hearts are manufactured as shelled seeds from the hemp plant. A healthy source of plant protein, hemp hearts contain an easily digested protein, which is known as edestin. Edestin is absorbed easily into the body. It’s also known to encourage antibody creation.

Antibodies are important in terms of resisting attacks on our bodily immune system. For those with allergies, hemp hearts act as hypoallergenic,providing you with the option of replacing food items like peanuts and soy as a source of healthy protein.

Hemp Hearts Health Benefits

Now that you know about hemp hearts, let us look at how this wonder food can help you. Packed with so many vital nutrients there are many different ways your body can benefit from the inclusion of hemp hearts into your daily diet— including:

Improving Heart Health

The essential fatty acids in hemp hearts can aid in lowering your LDL or bad cholesterol and simultaneously, improve your overall cholesterol ratio. Rich in antioxidants and phytonutrients like vitamin E, hemp hearts can help protect your cardiovascular system from any potential damage.

Boost Immune System

Hemp hearts contain alpha linolenic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid that has been known to boost your body’s immune system. The wonder fruit also contain immune modulators, which have been known to help reduce allergies.

Reduce Muscle Cramping

As a rich source of magnesium, the wonder fruit have been known to reduce muscle cramps by relaxing muscles after a strenuous activity. Athletes are at a higher risk of losing magnesium from increased sweating, so including hemp hearts into their drinks can help promote regular cramp-free workout sessions. In addition to magnesium, the hemp hearts also contain vital minerals that aid in the repair of tissues such as zinc, iron, manganese and calcium.

Fight Inflammation in the Body

Filled with omega-6 fatty acid known as GLA, hemp hearts act against inflammation. Those who suffer from arthritis and asthma can greatly benefit from the addition of hemp hearts into their diet. GLA also supports your hair, skin and nail health.

Hemp Hearts Recipes

If you’re wondering how to eat hemp hearts, here are a few recipes that you can try out

Hemp Salad

If you are under a good bit of stress, this hemp salad can help you get rid of it. The addition of blueberries in this salad can help reduce your cortisol levels in your body, also known as the stress hormone. Additionally, the nutty taste of the hemp hearts compliments the sweet blueberry flavor.

Ingredients:

Hemp seeds with a spoon on wood close up

2/3 cup blueberries

¼ cup hemp hearts

3 cups pea sprouts with sunflower

1 tsp of honey

Salt, added to taste

1 cup of snow peas

¼ cup of virgin olive oil

Apple Hemp Muffins

Here is a great way to start your day. The muffins can also act as afternoon pick-me-up snack.

Ingredients:

1 cup of oat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/12 tsp cinnamon

2/3 cup hemp seeds

2 tsp baking powder

1 ½ whole grain flour

Salt to taste

½ cup maple syrup

1 cup applesauce

1 tsp vanilla

¾ cup Greek vanilla yogurt

By introducing yourself to a daily recipe, you will also start to benefit from the weight loss properties of hemp hearts. As with any foods, it’s important to understand hemp hearts also have its share of negative side effects.

While hemp seeds and hemp seed oil are high in the good kind of fat, it is still oily and when you add any source of fat and oil into your diet, you may suffer from some mild diarrhea. However, when taken in moderation you will continue to enjoy the wide range of benefits that hemp hearts have to offer.